Internal combustion engine



July 16, 1935. Q H. F|NK 2,008,186

` INTERNAL coMBUsTroN ,ENGINE Filed Dec. 20, 1930 2 sheets-sheet 1 July 16, 1935- c. H. INK 2,008,186

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE v'Filed Dc. 2o, 1930 2 sheets-sheet 2 2%- ffm!) if I .5:3 J2 f 62 fc5 r/ J7 Y v l J6 65 7 JI @"6 59 75 67 6'@ Z2 l70 k 71 65 75 f@ Patented July 1K6, 1935 2,008,186 INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Carl H. Fink, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application December 20,1930, Serial No. 503,630

7 Claims. (Cl. 12S- 190) My invention relates `to an internal combustion engine and has for its principal objects, to generally improve upon and simplify the con` struction of the existing forms of internal combustion engines, to provide an engine having an integral one-piece cylinder block and head, thereby greatly minimizing production costs, further,

to provide oscillating valves that control the 'ad-- mission of gaseous fuel into the combustion chamber and the subsequent exhaust of both products of combustion Vfrom the combustion'chamber and Y further, to provide relatively simple, practical and efficientmeans for lubricating the Valves, dissipating the heat therefrom and at the same time producing an effective oil seal joint between the bodies of the valve and the bearings in which the same oscillate.

A further object of my invention is, to provide improved means for effecting oscillation of the valves in proper time relation to each other and tothe reciprocating movements of the piston within the engine cylinder.

Further objects of my'invention are, to provide an internal combustion engine wherein the oscillating valves and their operating mechanisms are readily accessible so as to facilitate installation and removal, thereby permitting ready inspection, adjustment and repairs, further, to provide simple and eilicient means for adjustably securingthe oscillating valves tothe valve rods or stems and further, to provide an internal combustion engine that is comparatively light in weight and which may be economically employed for the propulsion of motor vehicles, air planes, motor boatsl or wherever high speed rotary motion and power are de sired.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novelfeatures of construction and arrangement of parts that will hereinafter be more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig, l is a top plan view of an internal combustion engine embodying the principlesof Ymy in-V vention. v

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken approximately on the line 2-12 of Fig. 1. j

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on' the lline 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2. V

' Fig. 5 is 'an enlarged vertical section taken through the center of one of the oscillating valves and showing the means for adjustably securing said valveto'tsstem.V

' provided with connected chambers i2, through Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on the line (ie-Ii of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section of a modified form of the oscillating valve.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical section showing the cam operated means for imparting oscillatory movement to the valves and their stems.

Fig. 9 is a View looking against the underside of the valve oscillating mechanism.

Referring by numerals to the' accompanying drawings which illustrate a practical embodiment of my invention, i@ designates a cylinder having a head ii that is ca st integral with the body of the cylinder and the upper portions of the walls of the cylinder and the wall of said lhead are which a fluid cooling medium `may be circulated j for the convection of heat. A portion of the' upper wall of the `head II is formed on an angle of approximately 45 and formed in the center of this inclined portion of the head is a depression I3, in which is seated a spark plug I4,lthe electrodes of which project into the combustion chamber I5.

Suitable cooling fluid ow connections I6 are made to the `upper and lower portions of the chambers I2. Y I

Arranged for reciprocatory movement within the cylinder `Iii is a piston l? that is -connected in the conventional manner to -the upper end of a connecting rod I8 and thelower end ofthe latter is connected to the crankthrow of 4a crank shaft (notlshown).` Y Formed integral with and projecting rearwardly from the head Il Vis a valve block I9 in which is formed a `pair of tapered valve chambers 20. One of these valve chambers is provided with a gaseous fuel inlet port 2I and leading from the other valve chamber is an exhaust port 22.

Leading from the valve chamber having the inletport 2| tothe combustion chamber I5, is an inlet port 423 and an exhaust port`2l connects the combustion chamber I5 with the valve chamber `having the exhaust port 22.

The upper ends of the valve chambers 2!! are closedjby a plate 25 thatis detachably secured in any suitable manner to the top of head VII and the upper end Vof block I9 and formed in the underside vof this plate is a recess 20, in whichis seated a wire screen 2'I of iine mesh and which overlies theupper end of the valvechambers 20, thereby providing `a screen for filtering the oil that is pumped into the upper portions of the valve chambers. `4 a Leading from 'the oil sump in the lower portion of the crank case 2S Vto a suitably located oil Y pump 29, is an oil circulation pipe 39 an-d from the opposite side of the oil pump an oil circulation pipe 3i leads to an inlet opening 32 that is formed in thecenter of plate 25.

Formed through the center of the valve block I9 and between the chambers 2t, is a vertically disl posed oil duct 33, and the upper end of this duct is a gaseous fuel inlet valve and a corresponding valve 36, which functions as an exhaust Valve, is arranged for oscillatory movement in the valve chamber having the exhaust ports 22 and 24. Y

The valves 35 and Stare identical in construction and the body of eachvalve is tapered longitudinally so as to i-lt the correspondingly tapered valve chambers 26 `and the upper ends of both `valves are recessed to form oil pockets 3l.

When properly seated, the upper ends of the valves 35 and 36 are positioned a short distance below the screen 2l that covers the upper ends of the valve chambers.

vValve 35 is provided with a diametrically arranged port 38 that' is adapted to register with the inlet ports 2l and 23 and valve 36 is provided with a similar port 39 that is adapted to register with exhaust ports 22 and 24.

Formed integral with the lower portion of each valve and depending therefrom, is a short cylindricalrstem 49, in which is formed an axial bore 4|, that extends a short distance upwardly in the body of the valve and extending horizontally through the shank El is an Iaperture 42, that intersects the bore 4| and 4which is arranged to one side of the axis of said bore.

Formed on the outer i' ace of the stem 49, around one end of the aperture 42, is a flat face 43.

Formed through thelower portion of each valve body and leading downwardly from the upper end of the bore 4l to the underface of the valve body .adjacent to the surface of the stem49, is a duct ilh'which permits air to escape from the upper end of the bore 4i when the upper end of the valve stern is inserted therein.

Each valve is Yequipped with a stem 45, the upper end thereof being adapted to fit snugly within the bore 4l and formed in onefside of the inserted portion of the stern is a notch or recess having a iiat bottom face 46. Y

Apin 41, Vhaving one side cut away to form a at face 48 that is inclinedlongitudinally, thereby providing a wedgerkey that serves toY lock the valve stem to the lower end oi' the valve and when thekey is inserted through the aperture 42 and is driven thereinto, the flat face 48 on said key engages the iiat face 46 of the notchin the valve stem, Vthereby very securely locking the stem. to the valve and providing for the ready adjustment of the valve on the stem.

. AThe outer end of the pin or key 4l is threaded as designated by 49 and which threaded end portion projects outwardly-from the flat face 43. To

withdraw the pin or key, it is only necessary to Vso that the Vvalve may be adjusted upon its stem or detached therefrom (see Figs. 5 and 6).V

In Fig. 7, I have shown a modiiied form of the valve andin this construction the port, instead of extending diametrically through the valve body, leads from the top thereof downwardly and thence laterally to the side of the valve body.

Where a valve of this construction is employed, it is necessary to arrange the external inlet and outlet ports in the head or plate that covers the valve chambers.

Extending rearwardly from the side of the cylinder block Il, are side walls 59 and removably secured thereto is a rear wall or plate 5| Formed integral with and projecting rearwardly from the cylinder block between the lower portions of the side walls 59 is a block 52 that serves as a bearing for the lower ends of the valve stems and a support for the valve stem oscillating mechanism, which will now be described and which is illustrated in detail in Figs. 8 and 9.

The lower portion or each Vvalve stem 45, provided With an integral collar 53 that rests on the Vinner race of an anti-friction bearing 54, the

latter being positioned in a recess in the block 52 and retained in such position by a removable plate 55. l Y

The hub 56 of a'short arm 51 is secured by means of a key 58 to the lower end oi each valve stem 45 and to further secure this arm and hub to the valve stem, a screw 59 is seated in a threaded recess in the lower end of the'stem and theV head 66 of which screw occupies a recess in the underside of hub 56.

Seated in block 52, adjacent to the lower end of each valve stem, is a pin 6E that is de'tachably-` retained in its position by a set screw 62 and the lower portion or this pin projects below block 52' to form a trunnion 63.

Journaled on each trunnion is the hub portion of a lever 64, which extends beneath arm 5i and formed in the free end of the arm is ra shortV screws 6'! and said locking member being secured to the underface of block 52 at a the trunnions 63 by a-screw 69.V Y

Depending from the intermediate portion of each arm 64 is a short trunnion '16, cn which is journaled a roller 'Il and said roller being Yrepoint between tained inposition by the head of a screw '12,

the threaded shank of whichpasses through the trunnion 'i9 and the arm 64 and said screw being locked to the armby a Cotter pin i3.v

The rollers H are positioned inthe irregular grooves of cams 'I4 and which latter are secured on a cam shaft 'l5 that is driven in the conventional manner and at the lproper speed from the crank shaft of the engine. i

During the operation. of my improved engine the cams 'I4 engage rollersr'li, thereby imparting swinging movement to the arms 64, which latter are fulcrumedon the trunnicns 63 and as a result of the engagement of the pins 66 in slots 65, the short arms 5l that are secured to the lower ends of the valve stemsY arevibrated.

Owing to the-different lengths of the radii of movement of the arms 64 and 5l and which radii are shown by dotted lines in Fig. 9, the short arms 5'1- that are secured to the valve stems have a much greater arcs of travelpthan said arm 64.

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2,008,1eei

i `As a result of the movement imparted to valve stems 45, the valves 35 and 33 are oscillated in their bearings so as to move their ports intoand out of engagement with the inlet and outlet ports leading to and from the combustion chamber in the engine cylinder.

During the suction stroke of the piston, port 38 in valve 35 is in registration with inlet ports 2 I and 23, thereby admitting a gaseous fuel charge into the combustion chamber and during this time port 33 in valve 36 is out of registration with the exhaust ports 22 and 24.

During the succeeding upward or compression stroke of the piston, both inlet and exhaust valves are closed or positioned so that their ports are out of registration with the inlet and exhaust ports and thus the charge of gaseous fuel drawn into the combustion is compressed in the upper portion thereof and at top center or immediately thereafter the compressed charge is ignited by a spark produced between the electrodes of spark plug I4 and the expansion following combustion forces the piston down on its power stroke.

On the succeeding upward or exhaust vstroke of the piston, valve 36 is oscillated so that its port 39 registers with the ports 22 and 24 and thus the products of combustion are forced out through the registering ports 2li, 39 and 22.

At the time the compressed gaseous Yfuel charge is ignited and high pressure and expansion are developed, both inlet and exhaust valves are stationary and said valves are to a certain extent cushioned by the films of oil between the surfaces of said valves and the surrounding walls. As a result of this arrangement, there is very little, if any, wear or distortion of the valves as a result of the high pressures that are imparted to the surfaces of said valves at the time of ignition of the gaseous fuel charges.

During operation of the engine, the oil pump 29 operates to draw oil from the sump in the lower portion of the crank case and deliver this oil through pipe 3| and such oil is discharged through port 32 and after Abeing strained in its passage through screen 2l, this oil discharged through duct 34 into the valve chambers 2U and the pockets 3l in the upper vends of the valves 35 and 3S. This constant circulation of oil through the pockets 3l and through the upper portions of the valve chambers 20 serves to dissipatethe heat from the valves, thereby cooling the same and in addition to lubricating the valves and their seats, said oil functions to seal the joints between said Valves and the walls of the valve chamber. The oil, after circulating through the chambers above the valves and in the pockets in the tops of said valves, discharges downwardly through duct 33 and passes into the sump in the lower portion of-the crank case.

It will be noted that the duct 33 passesdownwardly in the wall of the cylinder block and head directly between the valve chambers 29 and a considerable portion of the oil that discharges from the lower end of said duct will flow Vdownwardly over the water cooled cylinder wall Vand thus said oil will be materially cooled before it reaches the valve oscillating means that is mounted upon and below block 52. Practically all of the oil that discharges from the duct 33 and being appreciably cooled by its flow over lthe water cooled cylinder wall, will flow over the valve oscillating means mounted upon and below the block 52, thereby lubricating the same and said oil will pass from said oscillating means into the sump in the crank case.

`By removing plate 5i, the valves are readily accessible for the purpose of inspection and adjustment and when it becomes necessary to adjust the valves to their seats to take up any wear or lost motion, the locking pins 4l may be readily for imparting the desired oscillatory movement to said valves.

While have shown and described the engine head as being forme-d integral with the upper end of the cylinder, `it will be understood that said hea-d may be separately formed and secured to the cylinder block in the conventional manner. Further, have shown and described a one-cylinder engine, but obviously my invention ccrnprehends a multi-cylinder engine.

Byproviding the cylinder head with an inclined portion and arranging inclined portion Von the opposite side of the axis of the cylinder from the inlet port 23, the gaseous fuel charge that enters the inlet port strikes against the inside face of lthe inclined portion of the head and the column of gaseous fuel is thereby given a whirling motion scas to produce thel desired turbulence of the gaseous fuel charge which insures thorough mixture of the gaseous fuel charge, air and any heated products of combustion that might remain within the combustion chamber after the closing of the exhaust valve and as a result of this thorough mixture a more uniform llame propagation through the compressed fuel charge is attained at the time the compressed charge is ignited.,

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved internal combustion engine may be made and Vsubstituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth inthe appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a head formed integral therewith, a block formed integral with the rear portion of said head a pair ofV vertically disposed valve chambers formed in said block an oil circulation ductformed through sai-d block between the valve chambers therein and the upper end of which duct has communication with both valve chambers.

2. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a head therefor, a block to the rear of said head, which block is provided with a pair of vertically disposed valve chambers, ports between said valve chambers and the combustion chamber in the engine cylinder, valves arranged for oscillation within said valve chambers, which valves are provided with ports that are adapted to register with the ports between the valve chambers and combustion chamber, means for imparting oscillatory motion to said valvesmeans for delivering liquid lubricant to the upper portions of l said valve 'chambers a liquid lubricant duct formed through cationwith the upper ends of both valve chambers.

3. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a head therefor, a block arranged to therear of said head, which block is provided with valve chambers, valves arranged for oscillatory movement Within said valve chambers, a plate applied to the top or said block and closing the upper ends of said valve chambers, a screen arranged on the underside of said plate and covering the upper ends of the valve chambers and a liquidV lubricant supply pipe connectedto said plate.

fl. in an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a head therefor, a block arranged to the rear of said head., which block is provided With valve chambers, valves arranged tor oscillatory movement Within said valve chambers, a plate applied te the top of said block and vclosing the upper ends of said Valve chambers, a screen arranged on the underside of said plate and covering the upper ends oi the Valve chambers, a liquid lubricant supply pipe connected to said plate and liquid lubricant overow ducts leading .troni the upper portions of said Valve chambers downwardly through said block.

5. In an internal combustion engine, oscillatingr Valves for controlling the inlet ofgaseous fuel into the combustion chamber .of the engine and for controlling the exhaust of products of con:- bustion from said combustion chamber means for circulating liquid lubricant Wl'ie underppressure and for controllingthe exhaust of products-of combustion from said combustion chamber., the use of oil or liquid'lubricant under pressure .and in constant circulation over and in direct contact with said oscillating Valves for cooling the same and means for causing the liquid lubricant to flow over a Water cooled portion ,of the engine as it has passed over said Valves.

'7. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder having a Water jacket, chambers for oscillatoryV valves within the. engine block for controlling the admission of gaseous fuel into the combustion chamber 'Within said cylinder and the Yexhaust of products of combusti-on from said .combustion chamber, means for oscillating said valves, means for effecting a constant flow of liquid lubricant under pressure over said valves .and said oscillating means and through the engine block between the chambers for said valves and which liquid lubricant in its travel ows by gravity over a portion of the surface of the water jacket of said cylinder.

CARL H.:FINK. 

